mann cup 2015 box lacrosse brooklin strong side rotation offense play

Box Lacrosse “Brooklin” Strong Side Rotation

This is another common "Strong Side" Rotation (what the other three guys on the floor should be doing opposite the Two-Man Game with the ball) that we see Canadian and NLL teams using all the time.

"Brooklin" most likely comes from Brooklin, Ontario, Canada, not to be confused with Brooklyn, NY (although we can't find anyone to confirm that). It's just one of probably dozens of Strong Side Rotations that Box Lacrosse coaches use to get somebody open away from the ball, and keep the other three Defenders busy.

What is the "Strong Side" in Box Lacrosse? For most of us coming from Field Lacrosse, Soccer or other sports, the "Strong Side" of the field is usually the side with the ball, right or left if you divide the field in half. In Box Lacrosse, the "Strong Side" is the side where there are more players, usually three. This can be confusing for your players, so make sure they understand this if they're new to Box Lacrosse.

Teach your players the "Two-Man Game" with the ball first. Give the player with the ball space on the floor to use the "Pick" to get open and go to the Goal, or look to the "Roll" if he draws a double-team. Push the other three players to the opposite side of the field, the "Strong Side" to draw the other Defenders away and create space for the ball.

"Occupy your Defenders!" This is a great term we hear coaches use for players off-ball. Cutting and setting Picks away from the ball forces other Defenders to worry about their man. This way, they can't slide to stop the ball as easily, creating more time and space for the Dodger to go to the goal.


HERE'S THE PLAY:

You can run this play on both sides of the field, with or without the ball. We usually run this play on the Left side of the field (when looking out from the Goal or Goalie), so that we can run the "Two-Man Game", Pick & Roll on the Right side, since we usually have mostly right-handed players.

box lacrosse brooklin strong side rotation offense play

Figure 1.) Run the "Pass Down, Pick Down" on the ball-side of the field. Stack the other three players opposite the ball, creating the "Strong Side" away from the ball.

Create Space! Here, we have Blue 1, 2 and 3 stretching to the back side of the field to create space for Blue 4 and 5 running the Two-Man Game. Don't bring extra Defenders towards them!

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PRACTICE TIPS:

  • Run this play with the Strong Side on both sides of the field.
  • Practice running this play with the 30-Second Shot Clock in effect!
  • Practice "Brooklin" against one or two Defenders on the Strong Side before you go to even strength 3-on-3.
  • Have one player stand on the opposite side of the field and feed the ball to the players running Brooklin.

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